The team of genetic researchers from Hilo, California, New Zealand, and Australia will collaborate on a genetics study to address the hatching failure of two endangered bird species: the ‘alalā (Hawaiian crow) and the kākāpō of New Zealand.

The executive director of Waiwai Ola Waterkeepers Hawaiian Islands, an environmental non-profit organization, gave a presentation about efforts to protect the the waters of Hawai‘i. Waterkeepers is partnering with UH Hilo to deploy cages of native oysters in nearshore waters.